Board Game Hot Takes

In Episode 210 we give our hot take review on Daybreak covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss a poll on quarterbacks in co-op games. We also discuss some games that have been on our table including Batman: Gotham City Chronicles, Cat in the Box, and 7 Wonders Duel, and give a future take on Lord of the Rings Duel for Middle Earth Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:20 Poll: Who's the quarterback when playing co-op games in our game group? 08:24 Daybreak Description 10:22 Gameplay and Mechanisms 20:57 Production and Theme 33:35 Final Thoughts 39:35 Batman: Gotham City Chronicles 49:45 Cat in the Box 55:27 7 Wonders Duel and Lord of the Rings Duel for Middle Earth 1:01:21 Listener Shoutout If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

In Episode 209 we discuss the Board Game Geeks Top 20 games. We also discuss a poll on whether you've been influenced to buy a game because it was high up on that ratings list. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:29 Poll: Do you think a board game being in the Board Game Geek Top 20 ever influenced your decision to buy it? 07:35 Feature Discussion - Board Game Geek Top 20 Games. 58:24 Listener Shoutout If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

In Episode 208 we discuss some of our biggest annoyances that some publishers do in regards to the production, components, or presentation of their board games. We look at games that have these problems but also games that we think solved those issues. We also discuss a poll on whether a past production issue would turn us off from future games by that publisher. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:36 Poll: Has a production or component issue ever made you hesitate in buying another game from that publisher? 11:50 Top 3 Board Game Production Pet Peeves 13:50 Boring or non-thematic first player tokens (Discussed: Nucleum, Boonlake, Pan Am. Wingspan/Wyrmspan, Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar, Dune: Imperium, Dinosaur Island) 20:03 Bad rulebooks (Discussed: Kemet: Blood and Sand, Bitoku, Batman: Gotham City Chronicles, Trellis, One Deck Galaxy, Arcs, Smartphone, Inc., Inis, Tainted Grail, This War of Mine) 28:34 Game boxes are too small (Discussed: Great Wall, Lords of Hellas, Blood Rage, Ankh: Gods of Egypt, Return to Dark Tower, Lords of Ragnarok) 36:57 Paper thin player boards (Discussed: Terraforming Mars, Underwater Cities, Pan Am, Apiary, Tapestry) 42:44 Lack of diverse representation in art (Discussed: Hansa Teutonica, Grand Austria Hotel, Skyrise, Royal Visit, My Father's Work, Abducktion) 49:15 Repetitive Card Artwork (Discussed: Capital Lux 2: Generations, Nidavellier, Revive, Tapestry, Star Realms, Shamans) 55:48 Molded inserts that make setup or teardown harder (Discussed: Great Western Trail: 2nd Edition, Lords of Waterdeep, Apiary, Expeditions, Dwellings of Eldervale, Cat in the Box, Wonderland's War, Brass: Birmingham) 1:02:24 Production obstructs function (Discussed: Voidfall, Arcs, Smartphone, Inc., Trekking the World, Eclipse: 2nd Dawn, Trouble, Tacocat 1:09:26 Excessive Card Tucking (Discussed: One Deck Galaxy, Terraforming Mars, Revive, Expeditions, La Granja, Lacrimosa, Space Base, Aquatica) 1:17:30 Runner Ups (Discussed: Voidfall, Magic: The Gathering, Scythe, Carcassone, Baseball Highlights 2045, Star Realms) 1:21:56 Listener Shoutout If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

In Episode 207 we give our hot take review on Luthier covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss a poll on publisher/designer behavior influencing your interest in buying games. We also discuss some games that have been on our table including Arcs: The Blighted Reach Expansion, Poetry for Neanderthals, and Sail. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:45 Poll: Do the personalities (good or bad), political stances, or past business practices (good or bad) of a publisher or designer influence your willingness to buy a game? 11:50 Luthier Description 14:38 Gameplay and Mechanisms 32:19 Production and Theme 39:10 Final Thoughts 47:15 Poetry for Neanderthals 51:14 Arcs: The Blighted Reach Expansion 1:00:58 Sail 1:06:40 Listener Shoutout If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

In Episode 206 we're joined by Arwen from the Cardboard Time Podcast to discuss the reasons that we decide to buy games. We discuss a poll on how much thought you put into a game before purchasing it. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 04:45 Poll: How much thought do you put into your choice to purchase a board game? 09:24 Why do we buy games? 10:13 Interactive puzzle 14:16 Easy teach with strong decision space 18:12 I've played it, I LOVE it, and I have a group to play it with 22:14 Captivating system 27:34 Mechanically or thematically unique 31:15 The best version of a mechanism 34:27 Unique or novel 37:58 Accessibility 46:09 Intriguing and deeply discounted 50:22 Speed Round Questions 1:05:54 Listener Shoutout If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

In Episode 205 we revisit our hot takes on Arcs covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss a poll on traveling with games. We also discuss some games that have been on our table including Captain Flip, Architects of the West Kingdom, and A Gest of Robin Hood. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:48 Poll: When you travel on vacation, how many games do you bring with you? 08:24 Arcs Description 10:12 Gameplay and Mechanisms 33:01 Production and Theme 42:50 Final Thoughts 49:58 Captain Flip 53:29 Architects of the West Kingdom 56:25 A Gest of Robin Hood If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/boardgamehottakes Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamehottakes Join our Board Game Arena Community: https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=11417205

In Episode 204 we conclude the 2024 countdown of our top 40 Board Games of all time with choices 1-10. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:29 Chris #10 Apiary 07:13 Adam #10 Battle for Rokugan 11:30 Tim #10 The Castles of Burgundy 13:25 Chris and Tim #9 Agricola 18:08 Adam #9 - Ankh: Gods of Egypt 21:37 Chris #8 - Eclipse: 2nd Dawn for the Galaxy 23:54 Tim #8 - Pulsar 2849 26:20 Adam #8 - Sol: Last Days of a Star 29:31 Chris #7 - A Feast for Odin 33:48 Adam #7 - Shamans 37:32 Tim #7 - Tapestry 40:04 Chris #6 - Voidfall 44:09 Adam #6 - The Expanse Board Game 39:32Tim #6 - Cyclades 52:24 Chris #5 - Tapestry 55:51 Adam #5 - Gaia Project 59:20 Tim #5 - Lorenzo Il Magnifico 1:02:10 Chris #4 (Adam #3) - Dune: Imperium Uprising / Dune: Imperium 1:04:56 Adam #4 -  Arcs / Brian Boru 1:11:40 Tim #4 - Nucleum 1:15:09 Chris #4 - Gaia Project 1:18:51 Tim #3 - Everdell 1:21:03 Chris #2 - Distilled 1:24:55 Adam #2 - Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy 1:26:42 Tim #2 - Dune: Imperium 1:28:06 Chris #1 - Pan Am 1:31:33 Adam #1 - Fractal: Beyond the Void 1:35:35 Tim #1 - Gaia Project / Age of Innovation

In Episode 203 we continue the 2024 countdown of our top 40 Board Games of all time with choices 11-20. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:34 Chris #20 La Granja 03:58 Adam #20 Voidfall 06:32 Tim #20 Sea Salt & Paper 08:08 Chris #19 Darwin's Journey 11:28 Adam #19 - Pax Pamir 2nd Edition / Arcs 15:09 Tim #19 - Tichu 16:01 Chris #18 - Blood Rage 18:28 Adam #18 - Baseball Highlights 2045 22:22 Tim #18 - The Voyages of Marco Polo / Marco Polo II: In the Service of the Khan 23:44 Chris #17 - Thunder Road: Vendetta 26:29 Adam #17 - Barrage 29:35 Tim #17 - Clank! Catacombs 30:52 Chris #16 - Obsession 33:46 Adam #16 - Marrakesh 37:11 Tim #16 - Lost Ruins of Arnak 37:56 Chris #15 - Azul 39:47 Adam #15 - Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory 43:37 Tim #15 - Ark Nova 45:07 Chris #14 - Teotihuacan: City of Gods 48:22 Adam #14 -  Wonderland's War 49:42 Tim #14 - Thunder Road: Vendetta 51:45 Chris #13 - Marrakesh 53:04 Adam #13 - Cat in the Box 55:34 Tim #13 - Le Havre 56:18 Chris #12 - Barrage 57:35 Adam #12 - Pan Am 59:55 Tim #12 - Blood Rage 1:01:15 Chris #11 - Maracaibo 1:04:37 Adam #11 - Smartphone, Inc. 1:07:05 Tim #11 - Terraforming Mars

In Episode 202 we continue the 2024 countdown of our top 40 Board Games of all time with choices 21-30. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:47 Chris #30 Wolves 03:33 Adam #30 Star Wars: Rebellion 05:23 Tim #30 Grand Austria Hotel 08:56 Chris #29 Godspeed 12:24 Adam #29 - Blood Rage 13:55 Tim #29 - Rising Sun 15:21 Chris #28 - Yokohama 18:43 Adam #28 - Beyond the Sun 22:42 Tim #28 - Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar 24:52 Chris #27 - Ark Nova 30:19 Adam #27 - Age of Galaxy 33:05 Tim #27 - Underwater Cities 36:12 Chris #26 - Terracotta Army 38:52 Adam #26 - Revive 40:05 Tim #26 - Boast or Nothing 43:00 Chris #25 - Lost Ruins of Arnak 47:10 Adam #25 - Godspeed 47:48 Tim #25 - Architects of the West Kingdom 50:14 Chris #24 - Wonderland's War 54:32 Adam #24 -  Dune 48:35 Tim #24 - Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King 1:02:48 Chris #23 - Terraforming Mars 1:06:09 Adam #23 - Patchwork 1:09:37 Tim #23 - Apiary 1:12:10 Chris #22 - Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar 1:12:51 Adam #22 - Haggis 1:14:53 Tim #22 - Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest 1:18:02 Chris #21 - Kanban EV 1:20:56 Adam #21 - Terraforming Mars 1:21:36 Tim #21 - Wonderland's War

In Episode 201 we start the 2024 countdown of our top 40 Board Games of all time with choices 31-40. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:11 Top Games of All Time - How we made our lists 08:44 Chris #40 Battle for Rokugan 10:57 Adam #40 Brass: Birmingham 12:54 Tim #40 Rajas of the Ganges 14:47 Chris #39 - Castles of Burgundy 16:55 Adam #39 - Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game 20:22 Tim #39 - Voidfall 21:28 Chris #38 - Nidavellir 26:32 Adam #38 - Apiary 27:30 Tim #38 - Marrakesh 29:11 Chris #37 - Fractal: Beyond the Void 31:22 Adam #37 - Rising Sun 33:55 Tim #37 - Scythe 36:12 Chris #36 - The Quacks of Quedlinburg 39:21 Adam #36 - It's a Wonderful World 41:37 Tim #36 - Viticulture: Essential Edition 43:43 Chris #35 - Robot Quest Arena 46:03 Adam #35 - Capital Lux 2: Generations 48:03 Tim #35 - Space Base 50:30 Chris #34 - Smartphone, Inc. 52:10 Adam #34 -  SpaceCorp 2025 - 2300 AD 55:21 Tim #34 - Sky Team 58:56 Chris #33 - Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization 1:01:02 Adam #33 - Xenon Profiteer 1:02:29 Tim #33 - Revive 1:04:50 Chris #32 - Woodcraft 1:08:18 Adam #32 - Glory to Rome 1:11:24 Tim #32 - Battle for Rokugan 1:12:32 Chris #31 - Heat: Pedal to the Metal 1:15:56 Adam #31 - Star Tycoon 1:20:52 Tim #31 - Star Realms